A Look at the Past 7 Super Bowl Betting Favorites

We’re approaching the end of the 2018 regular season in the National Football League, and some of the usual suspects are separating themselves from the competition. New England (9-3) and Pittsburgh (7-4-1) are leading their respective divisions in the AFC. However, Houston and Kansas City are emerging as threats to end the Patriots’ and Steelers’ domination of the conference. In the NFC, the Seahawks have emerged from what looked like a building year to contend as a wild card team, but the Eagles sit at 6-6 and the Packers (4-7-1) have fired Mike McCarthy after 13 seasons. Instead, it’s the Rams and Saints contending again, with the Bears finally emerging from seasons of dreadful play to sit at 8-4 (although that loss to the Giants didn’t help things). As we consider Super Bowl betting futures and think about the postseason to come, let’s look at how the last seven teams who were picked to win each Super Bowl ended up faring.

A Look at the Past 7 Super Bowl Betting Favorites

Our time is now. We are Atlanta, and we are ready for #ATLSB53 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kFguIDTdCZ

— Atlanta Super Bowl (@atlsuperbowl53) September 7, 2018

Super Bowl LII: New England (-4) vs Philadelphia

Did you know that the Eagles were the underdog in every round of the playoffs? That’s what happens when you have to roll with your backup quarterback (Nick Foles) all the way to a title. New England put up 33 points, but that wasn’t enough against a Philadelphia offense that had surprise after surprise up its sleeve. Philadelphia covered and won, 41-33.

Super Bowl LI: New England (-3) vs Atlanta

The Patriots put 283 diamonds on their Super Bowl LI rings because they were down 28-3 in the waning moments of the third quarter in this Super Bowl. However. Tom Brady led a comeback to put up 25 unanswered points before heading into the first ever overtime period in the Super Bowl era. The Pats scored a touchdown, giving them their first lead and giving them the cover as well. New England covered and won, 34-28.

Super Bowl 50: Carolina (-5) vs Denver

Carolina was the favorite here because of the limited passing ability of Peyton Manning, who ended up winning a title in the last year of his career. However, Carolina coughed up the ball four times, including a late fumble from Cam Newton to seal the deal. Denver covered and won, 24-10.

Super Bowl XLIX: New England (-1) vs Seattle

Seattle had opened as a three-point favorite, but the action slid the line the other way and the Pats came into the game as the slight favorite. New England was down by 10 points at the end of the fourth quarter, but they roared back to go up four points at the two-minute warning. In one of the wildest finishes in Super Bowl history, the Seahawks drove down to the New England 1-yard line, but then Malcolm Butler picked off Russell Wilson on a play when common sense dictated handing the ball off to Marshawn Lynch, and the Patriots escaped. New England covered and won, 28-24.

Super Bowl XLVIII: Denver (-2.5) vs Seattle

The game opened with disaster for Denver, as an errant shotgun snap ended up leading to a safety, and things only got worse from there. Seattle had opened as the favorite, by 1 ½ points, but the line moved the other way, one of the largest swings (four points) in the Super Bowl era. Seattle covered and won, 43-8.

Super Bowl XLVII: San Francisco (-4) vs Baltimore

This was the only Super Bowl matchup featuring brothers as head coaches, with Jim Harbaugh coaching the 49ers and John Harbaugh coaching the Ravens. Baltimore built a 28-6 lead in the third quarter, but the 49ers almost came all the way back, getting inside the 10 with less than two minutes left but missing on fourth-and-goal down by five points. Baltimore won and covered, 34-31. 

Super Bowl XLVI: New England (-3) vs N.Y. Giants

New England was favored to win in their second Super Bowl showdown against the Giants, but despite the fact that the Patriots led by eight points during the third quarter, Eli Manning led the Giants back, with Ahmad Bradshaw scoring the go-ahead touchdown inside the two-minute warning. New York won and covered, 21-17.